
An aspect of forced marriage is Honour-based violence. The terms “honour-based violence” or
“Izzat” [Honour] embrace a variety of crimes of violence, including assault, imprisonment and murder where the person is being punished by their family or their community for actually, or allegedly, undermining what the family or community believes to be the correct code of behaviour.
Many victims as well as health care professionals may assume that health professionals cannot help them. For this reason, it is unlikely that a victim will present to a health professional as going through or gone through a forced marriage. However, if a health professional is aware of forced marriages and the ways in which victims can be helped, they are in an ideal position to provide early and effective intervention. They can offer practical help by providing information about rights and choices. They can also assist victims by referring them on to the police, social care services, support groups, counselling services and appropriate support groups.

As health professionals, you can use the experience and expertise of the forced marriage unit to help support you in dealing with this issue. You can offer information and support to individuals who: fear that they are going to be forced into a marriage (in the UK or overseas); or fear for a friend or relative who may be forced into a marriage (in the UK or overseas); have already been forced into a marriage and want to consider their next steps. Health care professionals can help by providing information about existing networks, including social care services, police, health and non-governmental organisations. Providing information on how to seek legal remedies in the UK and overseas may also be helpful (Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Home Office 2013).
The above has been adapted from the Government Forced Marriage Guidelines for Health professionals
References
Alijah, Z., & Chantler, K. (2015). Forced Marriage Is a Child Protection Matter. Domestic Violence and Protecting Children: New Thinking and Approaches, 97.
Chantler, K. (2012). Recognition of and intervention in forced marriage as a form of violence and abuse. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 13, 176-183.
Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Home Office (2015). Information and practice guidelines for professionals protecting, advising and supporting victims. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/forced-marriage. (Accessed 27 November 2015)
Quek, K. (2013). A Civil Rather than Criminal Offence? Forced Marriage, Harm and the Politics of Multiculturalism in the UK. The British Journal of Politics & International Relations, 15, 626-646.
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